Clean Energy Insight - Moving Energy Forward

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The Sandia National Labs Chapter of NA-YGN actively promoted National Nuclear Science Week (January 24th - 28th).  Activities were planned at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History for the “Getting to Know Nuclear,” “Energy Career Day,” “Energy Generation Day” and “Safety Day.”  Sandia Corporation provided transportation for up to 250 kids to travel to museum each day of the week. 

Each child was provided with a Dum Dum sucker relating the size of the sucker to the amount of U-235 needed to power their lives; in addition each child was given a name tag that stated I’m naturally radioactive!  Each day consisted of activities related to that day’s theme as well as the general principles of nuclear engineering - below is an overview of our activities.

• Getting to Know Nuclear (co hosted with the local ANS section) - Geiger counters, calculating annual radiation dose, mouse trap and dominos to explain chain reactions, vandegraff generator
• Career Day - we had several stations explaining careers in nuclear and contrasting them to the “tv” version of nuclear careers, i.e. Homer Simpson vs. a real power plant Operator.
• Energy Generation Day - in addition to the general stations from day one we had a station where kids could learn how a power plant works and act out the different parts of a nuclear power plant, we also explained the principles of fission using a balloon activity.

• Safety Day - we added activities to explain the difference between beta, gamma, and alpha particles and how they penetrate materials, we also had tyvex suits for each of the kids to dress up like a rad worker and understand how we protect ourselves when working with hazard materials.

All in all, we outreached to over 700 kids from 12 different schools in the area, ranging from 5th grade to seniors in high school.  It was a great experience working with the museum to provide activities that would support nuclear.  Over 15 NA-YGNers gave up at least half a day of work to volunteer their time.

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Last week FIVE PEOPLE were KILLED due to a GAS EXPLOSION in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  In DISGUST of hearing how once again a VIOLENT GAS EXPLOSION has TAKEN NUMEROUS LIVES, I thought it appropriate to provide some detailed information regarding the amount of lives lost in severe accidents with respect to energy source.  It is also important to ask WHY these ACCIDENTS CONTINUE TO OCCUR.

Recently, the Nuclear Energy Agency, of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), published a report [1] that compares nuclear accident risks with those from other energy sources.  The OECD is a forum where the governments of 32 democracies work together to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges of globalization.  The OECD attempts to compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice, and work to coordinate domestic and international policies [1].

The report compares the severe accident data from a wide range of energy sources.  Severe accident is defined in the report as an accident with five or more immediate fatalities.  The data, ranging from 1969 to 2000, was provided by the Paul Scherrer Institute [2].  The results considered full energy chains because for fossil fuel chains, the accidents at plants are minor compared to the other stages of the energy chain.  In general and as applicable, an energy chain comprises exploration, extraction, transport, storage, power and/or heat generation, transmission, local distribution, waste treatment and disposal.

Summary of Severe Accidents (≥ 5 Fatalities) from 1969-2000 [1,2]

More than 2,500 people are killed every year in energy-related severe accidents (≥ 5 fatalities).  One hydro power incident that occurred in China was responsible for 29,924 deaths.  Single oil related accidents in the Philippines and Afghanistan caused 4,386 and 2,700 prompt fatalities respectively [1].

The one nuclear severe accident that has occurred is the Chernobyl (Ukraine) accident.  There were 31 immediate fatalities following this accident, with latent deaths estimated to be between a total of 9,000 and 33,000 over the next 70 years based on current radiation dose risk coefficients [1].  By way of comparison, the OECD reports that outdoor air pollution due to fine particles (≤ 10 microns) is estimated to have caused approximately 960,000 premature deaths in 2000 alone.  Of this pollution, approximately 30 % arises from energy sources [1].

Production of electricity by means of NUCLEAR ENERGY DOES NOT PRODUCE CARBON EMISSIONS.

As we can all agree, the death of a human being due to generating electricity is unacceptable; however, it is necessary to understand that improper design of a containment structure, disregard for safety procedures, and human error lead to the disaster that occurred at Chernobyl.

Existing NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS and the recently proposed units utilize a “DEFENSE-IN-DEPTH” approach to NUCLEAR SAFETY.  This means that there are MULTIPLE SAFETY MEASURES that are provided to PREVENT such an accident from occurring due to mechanical or human error.  Also, in the extremely unlikely event such an accident does occur, the PUBLIC IS PROTECTED by the reactor containment structure that is conservatively designed to withstand accident conditions.

Not one person has died as a direct result of the nuclear fission process utilized to generate electricity at commercial nuclear reactors in the US.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors key indicators that support an INCREASE in SAFETY and RELIABILITY at NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS in the US.   Please see previous article, “Myth: As Nuclear Power Plants Age, They Become More Risky,” which provides trends that support increased safety at US nuclear reactors.  Another important statistic is the capacity factor of a plant.  This is the ratio of actual electricity generated to the amount of electricity the plant is capable of producing.  The capacity factory for US nuclear power plants collectively in the 1970s was near 50%.  Currently the average capacity factor for US nuclear power plants is above 90% [3].  This increase in generation output is the result of an INDUSTRY FOCUSED on SAFETY and RELIABILITY.

The protection of the public, workers, and the environment from radiation has been the primary objective of operators and regulatory authorities since the start of the civilian nuclear power industry.  It is the responsibility of all individuals working in the NUCLEAR industry, INCLUDING MYSELF, to perform all tasks to the HIGHEST STANDARDS and to stand firm when nuclear safety is being challenged.  The SAFE operation of NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS is by far the most significant factor in the SUCCESS and GROWTH OF AN INDUSTRY that is poised to SHAPE our CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.

ACCIDENTS continue to occur around the world, including the 2009 HYDRO PLANT DISASTER in Russia that claimed the lives of 76 individuals, the BP OIL SPILL in the Gulf of Mexico last year, and GAS EXPLOSIONS such as the one last week.

The time is now to ask why these accidents continue to occur and why we are not taking advantage of NUCLEAR POWER; a CLEAN, PROVEN, BASE-LOAD ENERGY TECHNOLOGY that this country was the first to develop and benefit from.

The safety and operational history of the nuclear power industry should not only be commended, it should also be a major contributor in the current decisions and legislation to address the future energy demands of this nation.  Addressing the ENERGY NEEDS of society in a way that is both SAFE and RELIABLE is of the utmost importance to ensure a solid clean energy future; rather than doing it at the expense of human lives.

[1]          Nuclear Energy Agency, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Report, 2010

[2]         Paul Scherrer Institute Data Report

[3]         Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) - Capacity Factor

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NA-YGN Vogtle President, Stephen Stegall

The public statement below was given by NA-YGN to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Storage of Used Fuel and Defense Waste on Friday, December 7, 2010 in Augusta, GA.

My name is Stephen Stegall and I am an engineer employed at Southern Nuclear’s Vogtle Electric Generating Plant.  I was born and raised in the Augusta area; I have seen firsthand the benefits of having the Savannah River Site and Vogtle in this community my entire life.  I am here today to share with you my perspectives as a taxpayer, nuclear worker, and most importantly a citizen of the surrounding community.

Nuclear energy is safe and provides sustainable jobs, but it is received cautiously by the average citizen.  Even though I grew up in this area, I knew very little about the technology before working at Vogtle.  When I was interviewing my current position, I was taken on a tour around the plant by a Senior Engineer.  As we were walking towards the buildings with equipment, I suspiciously asked, “So, are we getting radiated right now?”  He just laughed and responded, “Not even close!”  In the few years that I have worked in the Nuclear Industry, I have come to learn why he laughed.  Not only are there redundant safety systems and procedures to protect against an accident at nuclear facilities, there is also the attitude that the safety of the public is priority above all else.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is safer from a personnel standpoint to work at a nuclear power plant than in any manufacturing discipline.  The safety incident rate is approximately 90% safer when compared to other common manufacturing industries.  It is because of this engrained attitude of safety culture and the proven safety record that I believe nuclear technology should be an integral part of this nation’s future in providing affordable and reliable energy.

Another part of this nation’s future is the next generation of nuclear workers in this community and across the country.  I represent the 6,000 young nuclear professionals in an organization known as North American - Young Generation in Nuclear.  We ask the Commission to recommend a timely pathway for recycling and storing of both Savannah River Site defense high level wastes and commercial-used nuclear fuel at a permanent repository, and to honor the Federal government’s commitments in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.  We also urge the Commission to consider interim storage facilities and that the responsibility for used fuel management be transferred to an independent entity with a management and financial structure capable of withstanding political change.  We must accomplish this to ensure sustained growth for an industry that is on the brink of a true renaissance to provide a sustainable energy source.  The nuclear renaissance isn’t just for the local communities building new nuclear facilities.  U.S. manufacturing and labor unions across the country will be greatly affected by it.  Steel mills and suppliers of electrical cables, pumps, valves, piping, motors, electrical breaks, and computer chips across the country are needed to support building these facilities.  Carpenters, iron workers, laborers, equipment operators will be needed to do the actual construction. 

It is important that the commission understand the true utilitarian aspects of nuclear technology when making your recommendations.  The nuclear renaissance doesn’t just touch the local communities embracing the construction of new nuclear facilities and technology.  Nuclear technology is essential to provide safer foods, a sustainable pipeline of medical isotopes used for cancer therapy, in addition to clean and reliable energy to our country.  Due to the necessary role nuclear technology plays in our community, it is important to remember that your recommendations touch the future and sustainability of multiple industries across America. 

To elaborate this point further, I want to give you a positive outlook on the potential your recommendations have on sustainable jobs in America.  It takes a large number of people and companies from the both the local community and across the U.S. to build a new nuclear plant.  To give you a few examples….suppliers and manufactures of steel, concrete, electrical cables, pumps, valves, piping, motors, and electrical breakers across the country are needed to support building these facilities.  Over 2000 carpenters, engineers, iron workers, laborers, project managers, pipe fitters will be needed to do the actual construction.  And… approximately 800 engineers, mechanics, operators, health physicists, and security professionals will be needed to operate the plant once it is built.  It is undeniable the impacts building new nuclear technology will have on the local and national economies and it is all threatened by not having a robust plan for disposal of used fuel.

Before I leave you today, I would like to acknowledge the other Young Generation in Nuclear members in the room.  These individuals are here to help answer questions that the Commissioners, or any of the community members may have, and to show their commitment to helping our nation provide clean, safe, and reliable technology for the benefits of American citizens.  The young nuclear professionals from the local community and across the country are looking forward to your recommendations for the management of used nuclear fuel in the United States. Thank you for your time today. 

Stephen Stegall

NA-YGN President - Plant Vogtle Chapter

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Nearly 1,000 elementary school students were introduced to nuclear power during this year’s Annual Drawing Contest, themed “Roddy Nuclear is the Power of the Future”. Roddy (a nuclear fuel pellet) was the star of classroom presentations where NA-YGN chapter representatives taught 4^th and 5^th grade students about the benefits of nuclear power and the role it plays in meeting our future energy needs.

Following each presentation, students were encouraged to draw posters that exemplified this year’s theme. Thirty schools were represented amongst the entries received. Finalists were chosen, and the winning drawings were selected by participants of the 2010 NRC National Convention in November.

The three winning artists have been notified and will receive a science kit, NA-YGN honorary membership and t-shirt, and a set of nuclear science books for their school’s library. The first-place winner will also receive a set of books of their very own!

Thank you to all chapters who made this event a success. Your dedication to public outreach has no-doubt sparked an interest in science and energy production in tomorrow’s “young generation”.

First Place

1st Place – Gabby Bindseil, St. Bernard School, Westinghouse PA Chapter

Runner Up

2nd Place – Anne Spengler, Paul Munro Elementary, Areva Lynchburg Chapter

Third Place

3rd Place – Victoria Schmotzer, Myrtle Elementary, Westinghouse PA Chapter